Future Lawyers and Doctors Learn about End-of-Life Issues Together
In California, students from the McGeorge School of Law and UC Davis' medical school met for two class sessions on dealing with the rights of the terminally ill. As reported by the Sacramento Bee, 40 law students and 90 medical students participated in the classes.
The discussions that arose show that the students do have a lot to discuss. Some pondered whether patients anxiety could be lessened by not using direct terminology like the word "death" and others questioned a mock patient's competency when she expressed a desire not to receive certain treatments. A key goal was to learn how to help patients make end-of-life decisions, and decide who will act as their surrogate when they no longer can do it themselves.
"There's room for improved understanding between doctors and lawyers generally," said (Ned)Spurgeon, who teaches health law and elder law and policy at McGeorge. ". . . Hopefully, this will mean better-educated doctors and lawyers with respect to enabling patients to have their surrogates make better decisions."
The discussions that arose show that the students do have a lot to discuss. Some pondered whether patients anxiety could be lessened by not using direct terminology like the word "death" and others questioned a mock patient's competency when she expressed a desire not to receive certain treatments. A key goal was to learn how to help patients make end-of-life decisions, and decide who will act as their surrogate when they no longer can do it themselves.
Labels: end-of-life, providers
Posted by: HFA permalink
1 Comments:
Hello -
I am a documentary maker and hospice volunteer in Atlanta, Georgia.
I've produced a short documentary about end-of- life decision making, palliative care, caregiving and hospice.
It's called 203 Days.
You can view it in its entirety at the following University of Connecticut website along with a study guide.
http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/Days/days.html
It is an unflinching look at the day-to-day interactions between patient and caregiver, in this case an 89 year old woman who is living with her daughter.
203 Days recently won the First Place 2007 Film Award from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
If you'd like more information please go to my website
http://bbarash.com/bb_203days.htm
I hope this film is helpful to people who want to know more about some of the most common experiences for caregiver and patient at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Bailey Barash
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